Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 19th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A swathe of heavy rain extends across the Highlands, southern Scotland then into Cumbria and west Wales, some torrential bursts, thunder and lightning possible. A belt of gale-force upland winds just ahead of the rain. Warm and humid. Winds ease in western Scotland, rain fades, cloud lifts, dropping cooler.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Heavy rain on and off. Low cloud. Gales for a time.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly, some marked variations, but for several hours in morning at least, 35 to 50mph, gusts 60mph strongest in eastern areas. Lessening from west by afternoon to 20-30mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions for a few hours at least on high terrain, gusts may knock you over, sudden buffeting on some downslopes. Considerable wind chill. Moderating to smaller effects during day.
How Wet?
Heavy thundery rain for periods
Bursts of rain extending northwards from overnight into morning, some more constant heavy falls. Risk of thunder. May ease off for periods during afternoon, but risk pulses of heavy rain may return from south during evening.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, lowest south, widely around rain
Cloud banks most persistent southern areas, covering hills much of day. Widely filling in and lowering over high terrain in rain, ragged patches to lower slopes. Brief breaks higher up mainly northern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Any sun weak through high cloud, largely overcast. Hazy, murkier around rain. Visibility may improve locally in north afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Humid 11 to 13C, warmest toward northeast; then into night dropping to 7C. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 20th June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20 to 25mph, occasional gusts over 30mph higher Cairngorms, greater risk late in day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, some more noticeable gusty spots at times. Feeling cool in exposure on high tops.
How Wet?
Brief local showers
One or two showers drifting eastwards morning into middle of day, but largely fading out into afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Some patches, mostly all clearing
Cloud banks mainly Ben Alder to hills near Drumochter in the morning, patchier east and north. Soon mostly above 900m and lifting higher, increasingly dispersing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, best in eastern areas. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 9 or 10C afternoon. Feeling around 0C in the wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 21st June 2026
Last updated
Thu 18th Jun 26 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 15 to 20mph in morning, possible 25mph at first; dropping to 10mph or less, more variable direction later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small.
How Wet?
Rain not expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
Brief patches of cloud around some slopes early morning, soon all dispersing, or cloud then forming above the summits.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Above 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Early sunshine then patchwork of cloud and sun as fair-weather cloud builds. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C at dawn, rising to 12C afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Cooler and less humid for Saturday, some showery rain and low cloud in the west, tending to improve. Sunday is a dry day for most with clearer hills, light winds and feeling warmer, becoming more humid again from the south. More uncertainty early next week - some rain possible for Scotland into Monday, potential scattered thunderstorms for England and Wales as it becomes very humid. A fresher westerly wind is indicated into Tuesday with some showers, then higher pressure likely expands over the country from the south midweek with drier weather then likely for a few days. Scope for higher temperatures and humidity to build toward next weekend, which may eventually break into thunderstorms.